Youth Development through sport

This annual sports event brought together over 800 young people from Siasikabole and nearby villages.

Apart from just engaging in sporting activities, CYP thought it necessary to carry out short interviews with the youths/pupils from within the village of Siasikabole and those from the near by areas. Others talked to were parents, teachers and the Village headman.

Among the critical problems that were raised in the interviews was the lack of adequate education facilities coupled by limited number of educators, HIV/AIDS, poverty and lack of sensitization on sexual reproductive health.

Despite of this, young people are ready to take up challenges, aim high and achieve success. This is evident in the way they expressed themselves during interviews.

“Congratulations to the Commonwealth Youth Programme for doing such an excellent job in bringing together some of the best minds to share their experiences with us, here in Siasikabole, we lack proper mentors, and when you visit us during events like this one, we feel encouraged and we want to do better. You help us realize that this is not all there is to life.” Mutinta grade 7 pupil from Tara basic, Siasikabole village, Choma district.

“Incidences of teen pregnancies are on the rise, the school infrastructure is insufficient and deteriorating. We need a lot of assistance to improve the quality of education. Even though we are faced with all these problems, we will make it.” Agather munkombwe, grade 7 pupil from Mwana Chilenga Basic School.

“HIV/AIDS is threatening the lives of young people and has destroyed many hopes and ambitions.” Paksina Himunyanga, 14 year old, Siasikabole Basic School.

Paksina challenged fellow youths to concentrate on their studies and participate in sporting activities to ensure good health and productivity.

Mr. Mudenda, deputy head, Muchenge basic school expressed gratitude over the efforts CYP has been making to reach out to youths.

“I am at great pains to see how our youths are struggling to make a living. I am sure that every single person present here believes our young people deserve the deepest love and the strongest support. We all dream of that perfect world where every young person in this community is raised in a happy home – safe and secure, healthy and loved. As a result, we’d see them with the self-esteem, education and support required to make a smooth transition from high school into higher education, training, or the workplace. Our youths here have a passion for education; we are trying all we can to empower them to develop into effective future leaders with the limited resources available. Thank you CYP for your contributions to the livelihood of our youths. You are indeed living up to your mission.” Mr. Mudenda; Deputy Head, Muchenge basic school.

A number of valuable insights came out of these interviews as the people who were interviewed are people who are directly faced by these problems - the youths.

They called on the Government and stake holders to build more classrooms, to help them find sponsors for those that qualify to tertiary institutions and to set up programmes in place which can help young people attain the skills, self-worth, motivation and desire necessary to help them get a job or further education.

It is often said that coming up with a solution is half a problem solved, young people is Siasikabole Village suggested a number of ways in which these problems could be solved and its important for the Government and stake holders to take necessary steps to address these problems.